Women, Children and Pregnancy
Bad Luck / Good Luck
*When a baby is just born you say "God Bless You" to prevent the child from getting the evil eye
*Mal de ojo/ The evil eye is especially thought to cause illness in babies. It happens when somebody looks at a child with envy and makes compliments without without saying "God bless you". If children become sick suddenly and without any physical reason and a doctor has no explanation is is for sure caused by mal de ojo.
*The "Ásabache" is a black hand or fist, sometimes a red and black bean that is used to ward off the mal ojo/ evil eye. Usually worn around the neck, even on a gold chain. Always a good baby shower gift. (more about the asabache at the bottom of this page)
*Never remove the 'asabache' until someone says it's nonsense
*Put a small bracelet of beads on the child's ankle or wrist to ward off evil and to bring prosperity.
*The name is an important part of the person and can be used to bring evil to the person if it is known. Because of this a persons real name is usually kept secret. If your real name is known then you could be bewitched or sold to the devil by a Vendegete, or cursed by a brujo/ witch.This is why nick names, known here as Apodo, are given to children by their parents. These names usually are nothing like their given name but usually has something to do with their appearance. This way, by using the fake name it conceals their true identities from anyone trying to curse them.
*A small bag worn around the neck of little children is filled with garlic to ward off evil spirits, evil eyes and sickness.
*A small piece of black fabric must be tied around the right arm of a new born This fabric draws in and collects negative energy keeping it from the baby.
*In some areas of Dominican Republic prior to baptism they are given a baño/ bath to ward of the evil eye. This bath contains a mashed clove of garlic and three grains of salt added to the Agua Bendita/ Holy Water This mix is sprinkled on the child.
*If a child dies without being baptized they pass the time playing tricks on humans. For example, when you can't find your eyeglasses or sewing scissors, even though sure you left them in a particular spot, it is probably because they were hidden by the duendes.(more on Duendes)
Parenting
*Some parents in Dominican Republic hang a baseball glove on the crib of a newborn baby boy as a good luck charm because they wish him to become a great baseball player.
*If you let a child see his or her reflection before they're two years old they won't talk.
*Do not get your baby's haircut before he is one. If you do he won't talk!
*If the hammock of the boy is rocked without him in it, this will cause the boy to become crazy.
*When a child bends over and looks at you from between their legs, it is said that they want another little brother or sister.
*Permitting a dog or cat, depending on who is telling the tale, to sleep on a child's bed will make them not be able to have children
*Throwing a child's milk or baby tooth on the rooftop when they lose it will make the new tooth come in strong and straight. (more information on this and the Ratoncito Pérez)
Cures
*If a baby is getting sick or congested take a hair off a menstruating woman's head and tie it around the babies wrist for 24 hours and the child will not get sick.
*When a baby has hiccups, put a hair from the mother's head on the baby's head until the hiccups go away.
*To prevent hiccups when feeding a baby place a string from it's blanket on the forehead.
*Whenever you say something nice about a newborn you must say que "Dios lo bendiga"/ God Bless. Not doing so may cause the baby to become ill or cause some other catastrophe.